Mission to Nepal - Update 4

TCC • June 6, 2022

Dear Supporters,

 

I am attaching many picture files here. I hope this email reaches you and you are able to view these.

 

We finished all the seminars on Wednesday. Picture (a4) shows the class of 2022 of my seminar in Nepal. They dressed me up with gifts of the Nepali traditional costumes of hat, Dhaka Topi, and a scarf.

 

Then, we took off for a whirlwind tour of interior of Nepal, westward from Kathmandu, to the town of Gorkha. We stopped at 5 churches on the way. First, we visited Junu’s home and church. She is one person I mentioned in my last email. Boy, it was a tough climb. Now I know why Junu was so fit. It was a good part of an hour climbing steep uphill on a tractor-hardened road to her home, followed by more climb to her church. I was moved just for being up there and meeting this pastor who built the church there 15 years ago with the help of Christian organization YM. Most of his church members climb an hour of the same course to come to church on Saturdays! (From the circled homes in picture (b03))

 

Gorkha is a historic city where Gorkha Kingdome from there unified the entire Nepal in 18th century. In picture (b04), the circle shows where the kingdom and the temple were and big business centers located today. We didn’t go up there. However, this church building in town you see in pictures (b05 and b06) looked a perfect place for future trainings in much larger scale (as long as it’s not in summer time—the whole place was steaming hot.)

 

The elderly couple in picture (b07) arrived in Gorkha some 70 years ago as one of the very first Christians in town, escaping from persecutions in their hometown, and now the entire town block and more are evangelized with many churches around today. The gentleman still does healing ministry and told me, in a Nepali dialect, “God must be blessing American Christians specially since many comes to teach Nepalis.”

 

I think I know now why the road travelling in Nepal is so slow and treacherous. First, their terrains are so steep in every direction. The pictures in (b08 to b10) are taken at about 1,300 feet above sea level with a river flowing at the bottom of valley. However, the hills on both sides are so steep that they looked like some places we see in much higher elevations in other countries. They had to build the roads carving out that steep mountain side most of the way, and they are narrow and poorly maintained and with so many curves. This is the main highway system connecting two largest cities. All the trucks, buses, motorcycles, some pedestrians just make the traffic very slow. Then, there are cliff like passes we had to climb and the traffic moves up in snail’s pace even without any hazards. Sometimes, we were stuck over 30 minutes on a spot. The traffic on the other side of canyon in picture (b11) is where we were 40 minutes ago. If you ever come to this country to travel on the road, make sure you have a good company to ride with (we did), a good safe driver (we did), and good supply of snacks with you (we didn’t). It was a tough travelling.

 

Well, with this, I am signing off from Nepal. After attending worship today, tomorrow I will obtain a COVID test result, hopefully negative, and then flying out in the evening. I will be home in 3 or 4 days.

 

Thank you so much for your prayer support—it meant a world to me personally. We all should be blessed and truly be praising God for His mighty work in this mission of His and His allowance for us to participate.

 

May your walk with God be filled with joy and blessing.

Jay Lee

By TCC June 13, 2025
This Sunday is Father’s Day, and we know it can stir up all kinds of emotions. For some, it’s a day of gratitude and great memories. For others, it’s more complicated. That’s why we’re asking a big question this weekend: Is God really a good Father? Because let’s be honest, some of what we read in the Old Testament can make God seem angry, distant, or even harsh. But what if those difficult passages are meant to be read through the lens of Jesus, the Son who came not to protect us from the Father, but to show us who He truly is? We’ll explore some of those tough questions honestly and discover a clearer picture of God’s heart. Plus, we’ll celebrate Communion together as a tangible reminder that in Christ, we are fully loved and fully welcomed home. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.
By TCC June 6, 2025
The single most asked question we got was some form of the following: If God is good, why does He let us suffer? Maybe you’ve asked it in a hospital room, or in the middle of a sleepless night. Maybe you’re asking it right now. If so, you’re not alone. It’s one of the deepest and most difficult questions of faith, and we’re facing it head on this weekend as we continue our Beyond Doubt series. We’ll explore what the Bible says about suffering and how viewing it through the lens of Jesus can shift our perspective. It won’t erase the pain, but it may help us see that God has not abandoned us in it. In fact, He may be closer than we ever imagined. If your heart is heavy or your hope feels thin, come. Let’s seek God’s presence and peace — together. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.
By TCC May 30, 2025
This Sunday, we’re continuing our Beyond Doubt series with a conversation I’ve been really looking forward to. I’ll be sitting down with Dr. David Timms, Dean of New Testament and Leadership at Jessup University to talk about how we make sense of the Bible as a whole. More specifically, we will discuss the lens which he suggests best brings the whole of Scripture into focus and reveals the heart of God most clearly. It’ll be an honest, thoughtful conversation about questions many of us have had — especially when different parts of the Bible seem to paint very different pictures of God. David has a gift for making deep theology accessible, and I think you’ll find his insights both challenging and encouraging (his accent is pretty awesome, as well). If you’ve ever struggled with how to read Scripture or wondered how it all fits together, this one’s for you. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Can’t wait to share it with you,
By TCC May 23, 2025
This Sunday, we’re continuing our Beyond Doubt series with a crucial follow-up to last week’s message on trusting the Bible. Now that we’ve established what the Bible is, we’re turning our attention to how we read it — because let’s face it, the Bible has been used to justify both beautiful and terrible things. So how do we make sure we’re interpreting it responsibly? We’ll talk about why context matters, how our personal lens can unintentionally distort God’s Word, and why a single verse — ripped out of its context — can be twisted to say almost anything. You’ll learn a practical, easy-to-remember approach to reading the Bible faithfully and responsibly — not just devotionally. If you’ve ever struggled with conflicting interpretations or felt unsure about how to make sense of the Bible, this message is for you. Together, we will discover how to let God’s word shape us — without being reshaped by us. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,
By TCC May 16, 2025
This Sunday, we continue our Beyond Doubt series by asking one of the most foundational questions of all: Can I trust the Bible? For many of us, the Bible has shaped what we believe about God, ourselves, and the world. But have you ever wondered how this ancient library of books came to be? How the early church decided what made the cut? And whether what we read today matches what was originally written? We'll explore how the Bible was formed, and evidence for why it's still trustworthy and relevant today. If you've ever struggled with doubts or wrestled with tough questions about the Bible, this message is for you. You just might come away with a renewed sense of confidence in the truth you hold in your hands. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,
By TCC May 9, 2025
Last Sunday, we got to celebrate as 31 of our brothers and sisters in Christ went public with their faith through baptism. What a powerful moment for our church family! And we’re not slowing down. This weekend, we’re pulling out all the stops to make Mother’s Day meaningful and memorable. First, there will be donuts. Because what’s a celebration without some guilt-free carbs? Sweeter still, we’ll hear from Kim Thompson, the founding mother of Twin Cities Church. Kim will be sharing a timely message about doubt and identity — how easy it is to forget who we are when life gets loud. If you’ve ever wrestled with your worth, your calling, or your place in God’s story, this message is for you. Then we’ll close the service with Family Dedications — a beautiful moment where we not only dedicate children to the Lord, but also commission parents for the sacred journey of raising them in faith. Whether you come with your mom, your kids, or just a heart ready to celebrate, you’ll be surrounded by family. We can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,
By TCC April 25, 2025
Last weekend, we kicked off our Beyond Doubt series by voicing something many of us feel, but rarely say out loud: we have questions that can feel at odds with our faith. But as we’re exploring in this series, doubt isn’t the enemy of belief — it can actually be the doorway to a stronger, more resilient faith. This Sunday, we’re taking on a topic that’s increasingly common, yet often misunderstood: deconstruction . What do you do when the version of Christianity you inherited begins to crack under the weight of hard questions, disappointment, or pain? Is it possible to examine and pull apart your faith without walking away from it completely? We believe it is. This weekend’s message is for anyone who’s ever wrestled with their spiritual worldview — or walked alongside someone who is. We’ll talk about what it means to ask honest questions, seek real truth, and reconstruct a faith that’s stronger on the other side. Join us this Sunday as we move beyond doubt — together. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry With hope,
By TCC April 18, 2025
Easter is almost here — and we’ve got a full weekend planned to connect and celebrate as a church family! Here’s everything coming up: Good Friday Community Service – 12pm @ TCC Join us Friday at Noon at Twin Cities Church as we gather with churches from across Nevada County to remember the triumph of the cross. It will be a wonderful time of worship, unity, and gratitude for the grace Jesus purchased for us. Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast – Saturday at 9am Bring the whole family out for a fun morning filled with pancakes, eggs (the plastic kind), and connection with our local community. It’s a great way to build memories and share the joy of Easter with our neighbors. Easter Sunday – He Is Risen! Celebrate the resurrection with us on Sunday at one of our three Easter services: 8:15, 9:45, & 11:30am . This is the perfect opportunity to invite a friend, neighbor, or coworker to come experience hope and new life in Jesus. The 8:15am service is typically the lightest attended, so if you’re flexible, join us early and help make space for guests later in the morning. We can’t wait to see you this weekend! Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry With anticipation,
By TCC April 11, 2025
This weekend, we’ll prepare our hearts for Easter by reflecting on Palm Sunday. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, crowds lined the road shouting, “Hosanna!” — a cry of praise and hope. They had big expectations for what He had come to do. But just days later, their cries would turn to “Crucify Him!” We’ll explore how quickly expectations can turn to disappointment — and how dangerous it can be when we carry those same kinds of expectations into our relationship with God. Join us as we walk with Jesus into Holy Week and open our hearts to the kind of King He really is — not always the one we expect, but always the one we need. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Looking forward to seeing you Sunday,
More Posts